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Lithuania — One of the heaviest drinking nations in the world is facing a severe hangover. Lithuania's new liquor law has increased the legal drinking age from 18 to 20, banned alcohol advertising, and drastically curtailed opening hours for liquor stores.

The estimated inflow of excise duty on alcohol has never missed the mark as severely as it has in the 2017 state budget, daily Postimees reports. While the truth will be determined at the beginning of February, it can already be seen that there will be a shortage of €40-50 million compared to the €276.4 million included in last year's state budget, the paper said.

By reducing markup and creating grant programs, the Alberta government is supporting the province’s liquor industry and helping businesses grow and thrive.
Since launching in August 2016, the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program has provided eligible small brewers with grant funding, giving recipients the flexibility to invest in their businesses, increase production capacity, launch new products, reach new markets, make important capital improvements and create jobs.

A tax on sugary drinks introduced by the Government last year could increase alcohol consumption in some groups, a survey suggests.
The levy on sugary drinks may have unintended consequences on the nation’s shopping habits, researchers found.

Professor Sally Casswell, director of Massey University's Social Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation Centre, says taxpayers are footing the bill for emergency rooms filled with people harmed by alcohol - and that needs to change.